Oregon-based hotel and entertainment company McMenamins has tentatively set an opening date of St. Patrick’s Day 2012 for its new Tacoma hotel, restaurant and entertainment venue in downtown’s old Elks Temple.

Renee Rank, McMenamin’s marketing director, recently told the Daily Journal of Commerce that the company is proceeding full speed on the renovation of five-story landmark near Old City Hall with the March 17, 2012 target opening. McMenamin’s cutomarily opens all of its new venues on St. Patrick’s Day.

Tacoma developer Grace Pleasants and business partner Rick Moses recently bought the old building from its Oregon owner. Pleasants immediately resold the structure to McMenamins. Pleasants plans to build an apartment building and grocery store in the lot next to the Elks. That structure will sit atop a city-owned garage.

The Elks Temple had deteriorated for 40 years under a series of owners after the Elks moved to new quarters on Union Avenue in 1965.

Oregon developer Williams and Dame bought the building and secured it from the weather two years ago, but failed to find an adaptive reuse for the structure.

McMenamins plans restaurants, a brew pub, an entertainment venue and hotel rooms in the 93-year-old temple.